Desensitized explosive



Patented July 24, 1923.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILLES WARD, F SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. DU PON'I DE NEMOURS &, COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DESENSITIZED EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing. Application filed July 31,

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. \VARD, of Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Desensitized Explosives, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly to desensitized explosives, but has especlal reference to desensitized explosive compositions adapted to be used in aeroplane drop bombs and trench mortar shells.

The object of my invention is to prov de explosives which are desensitized and whlch are particularly applicable for use 1n aeroplane drop bombs and trench mortar shells, inasmuch as they are desensitized to such an extent that they will not detonate when pierced by rifle bullets.

A further object of my inventlon 18 to provide explosive compositions of this character which have the following characteristics The composition has sufficient strength to fragment the metallic envelope of a bomb or shell and drive the fragments at a high velocity to a maximum range; it is sufliciently insensitive not to be detonated when pierced with a service, armor-pierclng,

3o tracer or incendiary bullet fired from a standard army rifle or machine gun when the explosive is contained in the bomb or shell in which it is to be used; it is capable of being detonated effectively in aeroplane drop bombs and trench mortar shells with the detonators or intermediate charges used therein; it is capable of withstanding an extended exposure to a temperature of 30 F. without detracting from its ability to be (0 detonated with a high power booster, and

in fact it can be detonated when frozen;

and it is capable of hand tamping to a density or specific gravity f 1.35 or higher, as for example 1.50.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description thereof contained hereinafter.

IVhile my invention is capable of being carried out in many different ways, for the 50 purpose of illustration I shall describe herein only certain ways of carrying out the same.

For example, in carrying out my invention, I may proceed as follows: Wet nitro- 1918. Serial No. 247,598.

starch as it comes from the wringers is screened to remove the lumps and introduced into a mixer of any suitable character in an amount corresponding to 45% by Weight of dry nitrostarch,with 39% by weight of sodium nltra-te, 1% by weight of heavy lubrieating petroleum oil, and 15% by weight of water, this being the total amount of water present, including the water which is present in the wet nitrostarch.

Instead of the above composition, I may use a composition comprising:

Nitrostarch, 45% by weight.

Sodium nitrate, 37% by Weight.

Heavy lubricating petroleum oil, 3% by weight.

'VVater, 15% by weight.

In this composition, also, the 45% of nitrostarch represents the weight on a dry basis and the 15% of water is the total amount of water present, the nitro-starch and the water being added together as wet nitro-starch containing 25% water. It is obvious that by adding 60% wetnitro-starch containing 25% water the resulting mixture would contain 45% dry nitro-starch and 15% Water.

In the above compositions, considerable variation of the character and quantity of the constitutents may take place. For example, the nitrostarch may be varied from 40% to the sodium nitrate from 32% to 40%, the oil from zero to 5%, and the water from 10% to 15%.

Instead of the nitrostarch, furthermore, I may use nitrated vegetable ivory; instead of the sodium nitrate, I may use potassium or ammonium nitrate; and instead of the heavy lubricating petroleum oil, I may use any other oil which would have a desensitizing effect.

It is desirable to vary the composition to some extent to vary the sensitiveness thereof to accord with the different detonators or intermediate charges for the different sizes of bombs.

Owing to the presence of the large quantity of water, compositions of this character will be effectively desensitized, and the-oil also not only tends to desensitize the same, but protects the water from evaporation, so as to maintain the desensitizing effect permanently.

Vhile I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A desensitized explosive composition containing a nitrated carbohydrate, an inorganic nitrate, Water, and an oil.

2. A desensitized explosive composition comprising nitrated starch, sodium nitrate, water, and petroleum oil.

3. A desensitized explosive composition comprising a nitrated carbohydrate 40 to 45% by Weight, an inorganic nitrate 32 to 40%, Water 10 to 15% and an oil 0 to 5%.

4, A desensitized explosive composition comprising nitrated starch 45%, sodium nitrate 37%, Water 15%, and petroleum oil 3%.

5. A desensitized explosive composition containing a nitrated carbohydrate, an inorganic nitrate, Water, and an oil in the pi portion of from 0 to 5%. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing .l have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM HILLES WARD. Witnesses:

W. C. Core, W. F. TWoMBLY. 

